Pic from Photo Arsenal.
Yes, it's a Russian spy camera in a ring. Where do I get one of these? Or better yet, how could I make one? Hmm...
2.06.2009
Two of My Favorite Things
Yes, it's a Russian spy camera in a ring. Where do I get one of these? Or better yet, how could I make one? Hmm...
2.01.2009
Home Processing
Since I usually have to send my 120 film through the mail to be developed, I don't get pictures too often. After reading this article about how easy it is to process your own color film, I thought I'd give it a try. So I got two 1-liter containers and a new developing tank with a film apron, and finally got around to ordering a Tetenal press kit last week.
I've developed two rolls of film so far. The first one came out... well, entirely blank. I wasn't really expecting much from that roll, but I was still kind of disappointed that I didn't get anything. The second roll was slightly more of a success, with four pictures coming out. I scanned in the best two:
Wonky, but in kind of a good way. I'm especially fond of the colors in the second one. :)
I know I'm probably screwing something up to cause all the blank photos, most likely not keeping the stuff at the right temperature. But getting those few photos gives me that little sliver of hope that will keep me trying to develop more until it works.
I've developed two rolls of film so far. The first one came out... well, entirely blank. I wasn't really expecting much from that roll, but I was still kind of disappointed that I didn't get anything. The second roll was slightly more of a success, with four pictures coming out. I scanned in the best two:
Wonky, but in kind of a good way. I'm especially fond of the colors in the second one. :)
I know I'm probably screwing something up to cause all the blank photos, most likely not keeping the stuff at the right temperature. But getting those few photos gives me that little sliver of hope that will keep me trying to develop more until it works.
1.19.2009
Some Kind of Yakisoba
I have this habit of buying those little cookbook magazines that you find in store checkout lines. My most recent one is "Chinese Favorites", which included a recipe for "Soba Stir-Fry". I've been wanting to find a decent recipe for yakisoba and, despite the fact that it doesn't contain Worcestershire sauce or tonkatsu sauce, this one is actually pretty good.
Like most recipes, I modified this from the original to fit my tastes and what was in my kitchen. The original calls for shiitake mushrooms, red peppers, and bok choy, none of which I like. It also calls for tofu, which never turns out right when I try to cook it. Add whatever meat and vegetables you want, it's still good. :)
The Recipe:
- 8 ounces uncooked noodles (I used two blocks of ramen)
- assorted vegetables of your choice in whatever amount you want
- 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 c. chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp. tamari or soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp. mirin
- 2 tsp. corn starch
- 2 thinly sliced green onions
1. Cook noodles as you normally would. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok. Add the vegetables, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
3. Combine chicken broth, tamari, rice wine, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir sauce into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened (about 2 minutes).
4. Add noodles and stir until coated with sauce and heated through. Top with green onion slices.
Like most recipes, I modified this from the original to fit my tastes and what was in my kitchen. The original calls for shiitake mushrooms, red peppers, and bok choy, none of which I like. It also calls for tofu, which never turns out right when I try to cook it. Add whatever meat and vegetables you want, it's still good. :)
The Recipe:
- 8 ounces uncooked noodles (I used two blocks of ramen)
- assorted vegetables of your choice in whatever amount you want
- 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 c. chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp. tamari or soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp. mirin
- 2 tsp. corn starch
- 2 thinly sliced green onions
1. Cook noodles as you normally would. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok. Add the vegetables, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
3. Combine chicken broth, tamari, rice wine, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir sauce into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened (about 2 minutes).
4. Add noodles and stir until coated with sauce and heated through. Top with green onion slices.
1.12.2009
1.02.2009
New Year, New Title, Same Outlook on Life
I can't believe it's 2009 already.
This blog now has a real title instead of the lame placeholder one: "I Make Stuff." Because... well... that's what I do. Jewelry, lunches, hats, drawings, I've always been happiest when I'm making something.
In addition to the usual New Year's resolutions (eat better, exercise more, lose weight, continue to not chew my fingernails), I'm starting a year-long project of taking at least one picture every day. It's good practice, and by the end of the year I might have gained the ability to look at the world with a photographer's eye.
Sadly, though, I considered today my "first" day of the new year and my resolutions since all I did yesterday was sit around on my butt and play Dokapon Kingdom. Oops.
This blog now has a real title instead of the lame placeholder one: "I Make Stuff." Because... well... that's what I do. Jewelry, lunches, hats, drawings, I've always been happiest when I'm making something.
In addition to the usual New Year's resolutions (eat better, exercise more, lose weight, continue to not chew my fingernails), I'm starting a year-long project of taking at least one picture every day. It's good practice, and by the end of the year I might have gained the ability to look at the world with a photographer's eye.
Sadly, though, I considered today my "first" day of the new year and my resolutions since all I did yesterday was sit around on my butt and play Dokapon Kingdom. Oops.
12.23.2008
FLAN.
I had my wisdom teeth taken out last Wednesday and to prepare for the event, I stocked up on lots of pudding, Jell-o, and applesauce. I found these little flan-in-a-cup things that come two to a pack, sitting in some kind of flan fluid. I've never had flan before at all, and for my first taste of it being in a pudding cup, I wasn't expecting wonders. I was pleasantly surprised; It's pretty good! I'd like to track down a recipe for "real" flan. I think a small batch made in silicon baking cups would be a great dessert for a bento. ^_^
12.21.2008
Quad Cam
I've known about four (and more) lensed cameras for years, but until very recently, I was under the impression that all four shutters went off at the same time making a Warhol-esque image. As soon as I found out how they actually worked, they seemed a lot cooler. Unfortunately, the only one I knew of for sale was Lomography's ActionSampler, and $30 for something I'm not going to use that often is ridiculous.
So imagine my surprise when I spotted this crappy thing in a local store. It works like the ActionSampler, but it's a whole lot shittier and cost me only $7. And it comes in green AND blue. Hell yes!
The store owner asked if I was sure I wanted to buy it. She had opened one up a while ago and wasn't even sure the back would stay on very well. I assured her that I like crappy cameras, half the time I'm happy that anything comes out on my film at all... and that the back would be fine once I put some electrical tape on it.
So how's it work? At first I was worried that it didn't. Upon depressing the shutter button for the first time, I was intending to hear "click click click click" like it said on the package. Instead, I got a second of loud buzzing that freaked me out. Watching the lenses the second time confirmed that yes, that's the sound it makes when it's working properly. I'd hate to hear what it sounds like if it ever breaks.
Winding the film is easy enough, its just a little plastic wheel on the back like most inexpensive 35mms. When you're done with the roll, you turn the little crank on the top until the film is all back in the cassette. How the film actually looks when developed is something I'm going to have to wait and find out.
The Quad Cam is made by Accoutrements. If you simply *must* have one of your own but don't know of anywhere that sells their products, you can get one from Stupid.com or Archie McPhee for $12.95. Enjoy making your tiny animations!
So imagine my surprise when I spotted this crappy thing in a local store. It works like the ActionSampler, but it's a whole lot shittier and cost me only $7. And it comes in green AND blue. Hell yes!
The store owner asked if I was sure I wanted to buy it. She had opened one up a while ago and wasn't even sure the back would stay on very well. I assured her that I like crappy cameras, half the time I'm happy that anything comes out on my film at all... and that the back would be fine once I put some electrical tape on it.
So how's it work? At first I was worried that it didn't. Upon depressing the shutter button for the first time, I was intending to hear "click click click click" like it said on the package. Instead, I got a second of loud buzzing that freaked me out. Watching the lenses the second time confirmed that yes, that's the sound it makes when it's working properly. I'd hate to hear what it sounds like if it ever breaks.
Winding the film is easy enough, its just a little plastic wheel on the back like most inexpensive 35mms. When you're done with the roll, you turn the little crank on the top until the film is all back in the cassette. How the film actually looks when developed is something I'm going to have to wait and find out.
The Quad Cam is made by Accoutrements. If you simply *must* have one of your own but don't know of anywhere that sells their products, you can get one from Stupid.com or Archie McPhee for $12.95. Enjoy making your tiny animations!
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